Vikings can't pass up big-play potential of UT's Patterson

1:26 AM,
Apr. 26, 2013

UT vs KY best-2 Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) pulls in a Tyler Bray (8) pass for a touchdown as the University of Tennessee plays Kentucky in the second half at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville 11/24/12 Larry McCormack/The Tennessean

Written by

Evan Woodbery
| Knoxville News Sentinel

The Minnesota Vikings, desperate for a big-play receiver, traded their way back into the first round to pick Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson with the 29th overall pick of the NFL draft on Thursday night.

"With his hands on the ball, he can be outstanding," said former NFL coach and current analyst Jon Gruden on the ESPN broadcast. "He's going to be an electrifying return man, but he's a work in progress as a receiver."

The Vikings traded receiver Percy Harvin last month, so when they traded with New ...